SEX kitten Rae (Ricci) is bereft after her boyfriend Ronnie (Timberlake) leaves for National Guard boot camp. She drowns her sorrows at a party and satiates her physical desires with drug dealer Tehronne (Banner), who recognises that "she got an itch."

When Rae fails to oblige Ronnie's best friend Gil (Raymond-James) in a similar manner, he attempts to rape her then leaves the young woman for dead by the roadside.

One-time Delta bluesman Lazarus (Jackson), who clings defiantly to God, discovers Rae and carries her home with the intention of nursing the unconscious girl back to health.

When he learns that Rae is the town harlot, Lazarus tethers her to his radiator and vows to tame her immoral ways. "God seen fit to put you in my path and I will cure you," he states defiantly.

Taking its title from the foot-stomping Blind Lemon Jefferson song, Black Snake Moan is a loopy tale of salvation that beggars belief, delivered with the righteousness of a sermon that only makes the whole enterprise even more unintentionally funny.

Were it not for scenes of Jackson plucking up a storm at Bojo's Juke Joint with his musical tales of heartbreak, Craig Brewer's film would be beyond redemption.

Jackson and Ricci devour their roles, the latter spending almost the entire film in skimpy underwear and a cut-off t-shirt, but we're left hungry for full-blooded characters and a decent script.

The histrionics and overwrought soul-searching of the final 10 minutes - catalysed by Timberlake's lack lustre return to the fray - are wishful thinking. We're left fumbling for answers in the dark.